Riverside Park

LOST BATTALION HALL WINS "BEST OF PARKS" AWARD

"I’m crazy. I am a cleaning fanatic. I would do this if I worked in the Arsenal or in a park house. I can’t stand dirt. When you’re fanatical you’re fanatical wherever you go." These are the words of Joann Cioriari, the Center Manager of Lost Battalion Hall, the recreation center that has the best inspection record in all of New York City for the past three years.

Lost Battalion Hall is one of the busiest recreation centers in Queens, yet it consistently receives the best ratings. Since 1998, Lost Battalion Hall has been rated as a "model" center in five of its six inspections. (Only about 20% of all recreation centers rank as "models" on any given round).

Commissioner Murphy gives Joann Ciorciari all the credit for the center’s success saying, "She has a clean thing—windows have to be clean, floors have to be clean; everything has to be organized and everyone has to be alert. All the programs are run in a very precise manner. When you walk into that building you respect it almost immediately because of the ambience there; you think to yourself, I better not drop litter here because Joann will be on me. She’s a great motivator that way."

Located on Queens Boulevard, about 15,000 people visit Lost Battalion Hall every month. The center is host to a number of unique programs that attract people of all ages. One of the most popular programs is called "Learning Can Be Fun." In this program, public school teachers can bring their classes to use the facilities at the recreation center—facilities that they don’t have access to in their overcrowded schools. Lost Battalion is also home to the City’s only Olympic weights platform.

Commissioner Murphy has called Lost Battalion "an extension of Joann’s home." It’s obvious that Joann Ciorciari and her staff take a lot of pride in their recreation center—the ratings and thousands of satisfied New Yorkers don’t lie."

Written by Hannah Gersen

FALL CLEAN-UP IN RIVERSIDE PARK IS GREAT SUCCESS

Riverside Park recently received a boost from Parks staff all over Manhattan in a much needed 5x5 maintenance blitz. From November 12th to 15th, maintenance workers and gardeners from every district helped to clear away masses of invasive trees and shrubs on the slope near 87th Street. Manhattan Forestry and the Arborist Apprentices lent a hand. The work improved sightlines, restoring views of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. "We’ve been wanting to clear out this area for a long time," said Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl. "Not only does this improve the view, it also makes the park safer."

After the slope was cleared, the crews planted 5,000 daffodil
bulbs. Nearby, on a slope along 116th Street, volunteers recently
planted 4,000 bulbs. Both slopes were planted as part of The Daffodil Project
2002. When spring comes, commuters and pedestrians alike will be treated to
two fields of golden daffodils. Jibrail Nor, Riverside Park Manager, and supervisor
of the 5x5, was pleased with the results. "This work could not have been
done without massive support from every district in Manhattan, as well as Manhattan
Forestry and the Arborist Apprentices. I appreciate everyone’s hard work."